Special treats to share at Christmas

Christmas is coming, and we may not be fattening up a goose, but a whole lot of us are busy planning our annual cookie-making schedules.Thanks to Everett cook and longtime Forum recipe-sharer Lavon Woodey, we have two new possibilities to plug into our plans. Both have been favorites at the Woodey household for a long time, since 1965 to be exact.Lavon's particularly high on the first recipe, walnut walkaways. You'll notice it calls for yeast, but she says, "Easy! The dough is mixed but not set to rise,'' and adds, "Everyone loves these any time of the year, not just over the holidays. A real winner in my book.''Her second recipe, the unbeatables, is studded with dried apricots and crunchy walnuts and makes a sort of macaroon-like cookie.Walnut walkaways 1 package active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water 2 cups flour 1/8 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup butter 1 egg 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon prepared grated orange peel 1 teaspoon prepared grated lemon peel 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts Powdered sugarSoften yeast in warm water. Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add yeast mixture and egg; mix just until blended. Roll out dough, half at a time, on floured surface to a 9-by-13-inch rectangle. Beat cream cheese, sugar and orange and lemon peel until light and fluffy. Spread half on each rectangle; sprinkle with walnuts. Starting with the 13-inch side, roll up jelly roll fashion. Place, seam-side down, on lightly greased cookie sheet. Cut each roll halfway through lengthwise. Bake at 375 degrees 20 to 25 minutes. Cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut diagonally into 1-inch slices. Makes about 24 cookies.The unbeatables 2 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup (3 to 4) egg whites 2 cups chopped walnuts 1/2 cup dried chopped apricotsIn a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and egg whites. Add walnuts and apricots; mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto well-greased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes. Makes 36 cookies.The Forum is always happy to receive your contributions and requests, so don't hesitate to send them along to Judyrae Kruse at the Forum, c/o The Herald, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206. Please remember that all letters and e-mail must include a name, complete address with ZIP code and telephone number with area code. No exceptions and sorry, but no response to e-mail by return e-mail; send to kruse@heraldnet.com.The next Forum will appear in Wednesday's Good Life section.

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